As we near the so called ‘Freedom Day’ in the UK when all previous lockdown measures are set aside we have to think about protecting ourselves. Double vaxed - yes; care with who we meet - yes but have no idea who those we meet have had contact with; continue wearing a mask when shopping - yes. Yet I am beginning to feel vulnerable and wonder if we ought to be shielding.
Is PMR a condition listed under CEV under the auspices of ‘taking immunosuppressant therapies sufficient to significantly increase the risk of infection’ ?
I am currently taking 8mg Pred daily over two years since initial diagnosis.
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Bachfugue
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PMR is not a reason to be classed as CEV it’s more to do with our Medication, the level of Steroids & for how long you’ve been on them. The tipping factor into CEV is if you take a DMARD; a Biological or have other Medical Conditions.
There was Guidelines written last year & you were allocated points accordingly, l’ll see if l can locate it. But if you weren’t previously classed as Shielded you’re unlikely to be now but it’s entirely up to you to protect yourself in the best way you can.
This is what latest guidance says - as MrsNails says PMR is not specifically mentioned - but steroids are immune suppressants - so you are included depending on time on them and dose-
“people on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection”
Thanks PMRpro. They suggest shielding for those taking >20mg Pred daily for > than four weeks or those taking >5mg for more weeks with one other immunosuppressive drug (of which there is a list). So >5mg daily on its own doesn’t require shielding but self isolate/ maintain distance at our discretion. How does everyone feel about this in practice? I plan on working full time in September at a university with some student contact. Difficult to plan ahead.
If it doesn’t work as expected - see this - which details those
Patients to shield
COVID-19 - Identifying patients for shielding in England
Patients to self-isolate or maintain social distance at their discretion
• Corticosteroid dose of ≥20mg (0.5mg/kg) prednisolone (or equivalent) per day for more than four weeks
• Cyclophosphamide at any dose orally or within last six months IV
• Corticosteroid dose of ≥5mg prednisolone (or equivalent) per day for more than four weeks plus at least one other immunosuppressive medication*, biologic/ monoclonal** or small molecule immunosuppressant (e.g. JAK inhibitors)***
• Any two agents among immunosuppressive medications, biologics/monoclonals** or small molecule immunosuppressants with any co-morbidity****
Note - it was published last year at beginning of COVID.
Perhaps the term was for the virus as it will now have total freedom to run amok. We might not be officially shielding any more but little will be changing in this household.
Does sound this morning as if there is a bit of backpedalling going on - and Chris Whitty has finally spoken out. Though still talking to other scientists in the terms he's using and the politicians really don't get that when we say things we are being VERY British and reticent ...
My daughter works in A&E - 11 hour waiting times already. She says it is relentless and people need to be admitted. I do wonder how much is due to neglected problems that they simply haven't been able to see GPs about months ago.
Just listening to an interview with nightclub owners "It's young people who haven't had their jabs, we'll have hand sanitisation points, watch out for people who are unwell, no masks - but we'll be making sure it is as safe as possible ..." Well there's a non sequitur if I heard one! Oh yes - "and the football's been such a success"
It’s different ‘worlds’ isn’t it?? And will Chris Whitty’s voice be heard amongst the nightclub owners etc.? And even more important by BJ and his Gov? It appears to be an experiment with horrendous consequences if it doesn’t stay within the boundaries of their remit. How the NHS will cope and as you say the challenges in A&E Depts too. Putting so much responsibility on the individual rather than coming together as a collective is bound to have direct consequences.
I agree, highland tiger. Freedom? Nah! It’s going to be utter carnage. I shall definitely be maintaining low profile everywhere and avoiding big crowds.
As an aside to our rising Covid numbers, my daughter in Melbourne has just gone into a 5th lockdown as they have 14 Covid cases. Just 14! Wham, their government gets down to things immediately; no pussyfooting about.
Well, one lockdown (probably the first) was about 3.5 months; the rest shorter. this last fifth one will only have been for about a week. But They won’t end it though if they’re not happy.
What gets me is the fact if I came to the UK I'd have to isolate - we have low numbers though rising, 20 in the region today and mostly found by rapid tests, were in single figures last week - Italy as a whole has under a thousand a day. But people expect to come here on holiday from the UK with 45,000 cases a day!
In the paper here now - hundreds of young Italians headed for Malta, Greece, Dubai and other places for holidays/study trips and are now stuck there as they have tested positive or were in contact so can't travel home,
Well, I was happy with how things were being run at first, constance13. But when numbers are drastically increasing, I’m astounded that restrictions will be lifted! There’ll be another lockdown before too long.
I was on 15mg at the start of the pandemic and 10mg in the September 2020 when I went back to college to teach fulltime. Advice from GP and rheumatologist was as long as I socially distanced I could work. Did not work in offices and all students wore a mask in my classes and I had a 2 metres clear section at the front. Currently on 40mg of pred + methotrexate, should be down to 20mg by September, the advice is to avoid meeting people indoors, especially people I don't normally mix with. I will be cautious!!
You didn’t say why you had to increase from 10mg to 40mg. Was this a GCA diagnosis? And will you continue to teach full time? It’s a huge commitment in uncertain times.
My students will be mostly international so not sure if they will require double vaccinations before entry into the UK. My university is pretty clued up with online teaching often taking precedence. But the plan is to hold weekly face to face seminars (and socially distanced). And the commuting may well be a challenge. In London as it is, many remain unmasked.
Hi, yes diagnosed with GCA last month and on half days. Should be good for September. Online teaching has been a bonus, I taught quite a bit online when the number of cases increased in November last year with the students in the class and me remote, and fortunately college enforced mask wearing throughout the pandemic. Hope to carry on full time for a couple more years before I retire!
I will continue to wear a mask as a reminder to me and to others that the virus is still about and as protection for other people. I will maintain social distancing and will not use public transport if I cannot find a seat, or a standing place, distant enough from non-mask wearers. If this proves impracticable I guess I will have to stop travelling by public transport (I'm not doing much travelling at the moment and was looking forward to doing more.) and work out if I can afford to pay a mask-wearing, vaccinated, person in a thoroughly cleaned vehicle to take me where-ever I need to go - meanwhile looking to see whether I can find and afford a properly hospital-level mask which does give protection from the virus being transmitted by non -mask wearers.
I will use shops which maintain social distancing and where staff wear masks and (preferably where customers are wearing masks.
And I suppose that is how my life will continue for ever.
I’m relieved to see that some of our local shops/cafes etc are still going to continue their strict Covid measures. They’re the ones that will get our continued support.
Rightly or wrongly, I feel protected by steroids. Haven't had a cold or cough for over 6 years in spite of hubby having 2 bad chest infections, last one in January 2020. With hindsight he thinks it was covid... But maybe not.May have to eat words as we have big wedding (over 100) on 31st. Hoping it will be entirely outside. Tapered slowly don to 3mg.
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